11 September 2013

The headline of New York City's largest Spanish-language newspaper El Diario La Prensa NY says it all: Thirty-two-year-old Carlos Menchaca wins a historic Democratic primary to represent Brooklyn’s 38th District in the New York City Council. Menchaca is poised to become the first Mexican-American to be elected to the Council, as well as the first openly LGBT person to be elected in Brooklyn.

Menchaca won nearly 58 percent of the vote in the district that includes Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, and Red Hook. Menchaca easily won over incumbent Councilwman Sara González, who has held the office for eleven years. Menchaca decided to challenge González in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, reported Paul Schindler at Gay City News.

Sandy hit Red Hook with devastating impact. Living in nearby Park Slope at the time, Menchaca recalled jumping on his bike after the storm cleared and heading over to the area, where blocks and blocks were submerged under water, homes and businesses were shuttered and evacuated, and large housing projects, where residents depend on elevators, were without power.

"Government was nowhere to be seen," Menchaca recalled. Notably absent, he has since argued, was González, a point he said residents made over and over to him in the days he spent volunteering in the recovery effort. When, early this year, he decided to challenge her, the theme of a councilmember missing in action and the contrasting image of himself as "a candidate who is visible and active" became central to his campaign.

Menchaca was raised in El Paso, Texas. For several years he was the LGBT and HIV/AIDS community liaison for Speaker Christine Quinn’s office. Before that he served five years in Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office.

The general election is in November. The district overwhelmingly skews Democratic and Menchaca is heavily favored to win.

Three gay newcomers won their primaries yesterday for New York City Council: Menchaca, 25-year-old political wunderkind Ritchie Torres in the Bronx and R20 friend Corey Johnson in Manhattan. Three incumbents won their respective primaries: Queens Councilmen Danny Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer, as well as Councilwoman Rosie Mendez of Manhattan. That would be six gay or lesbian councilmembers out of 51 seats. Menchaca and Johnson—as well as Mel Wymore, who is transgender and did not win his primary to represent an Upper West Side district—were endorsed by the New York Times on August 31.

This is brilliant. A huge round of congratulations to all of the candidates.

While much of the nation's attention was focused on Bill de Blasio's impressive in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, there were a number of historic wins in the outer boroughs that deserve attention.

Twenty-five-year Ritchie Torres won his primary in the Bronx's District 15 and is likely to become the first openly LGBT elected official in that borough. Torres won with 36% of the vote in a 6-way race. The Bronx-born Puerto Rican had support from labor, political groups and his former boss, East Bronx councilman Jimmy Vacca, reported Paul Schindler in Gay City News.

For an out gay man of his age running in a borough he noted has seen “a wave of social conservatism,” Torres has made impressive strides. He has earned a blizzard of union endorsements — from the Central Labor Council, healthcare workers at SEIU 1999, buildings service workers at SEIU 32BJ, transit and sanitation workers, teamsters, and the United Federation of Teachers, as well as the Working Families Party.

He is also supported by State Senator Gustavo Rivera — a reformer who ousted Bronx legend Pedro Espada, recently sentenced to federal prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a non-profit he controlled — and Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., the scion of another Bronx dynasty who parts ways with his infamous father on gay rights issues.

Torres has worked for Councilman Vacca since he was 18-years-old. Very impressive.

Three openly gay candidates were among those vying for the Bronx District 15 city council race. That fact was described as a "remarkable" achievement by DNAInfo in June 2013.

Their only community center closed last year, gay-centric social spots are scarce and the streets can still feel unsafe for same-sex couples, some say. Not only has there yet to be an openly gay Bronx legislator, but it was a Bronx state senator, Ruben Diaz Sr., who cast the lone Democratic vote in that chamber against the state’s 2011 same-sex marriage law.

All of which makes the entry of three openly gay candidates — including the apparent frontrunner — into a single City Council race in the heart of the borough seem so remarkable to some. "That to me would be a huge victory," said Antonio Centeno Jr., former board chairman of the now-defunct Bronx Community Pride Center.

The general election is in November. The district overwhelmingly skews Democratic and Ritchie Torres is heavily favored to win.

Three gay newcomers won their primaries yesterday for New York City Council, including R20 friend Corey Johnson in Manhattan and Carlos Menchaca in Brooklyn. Three incumbents won their respective primaries: Queens Councilmen Danny Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer, as well as Councilwoman Rosie Mendez of Manhattan.

Jarod Keith, McMillian's campaign spokesman, confirmed the candidate was openly gay but said it never came up during the campaign. Keith said he was in shock over the incident. McMillian had entered the highly contested mayoral race earlier this year, saying he wanted to combat crime and high unemployment. Politics likely wasn't a factor in McMillian's death, said Coahoma County Coroner Scotty Meredith.

McMillian was living in Memphis before returning to his hometown of Clarksdale several months ago to run for mayor. He graduated from Clarksdale High School in 1997, and his family still lives in the Delta city where he grew up.

Longtime friend Damon Ray called McMillian a mentor and the kind of person who would help anybody. "He always believed in helping," said Ray, an Indianapolis-based event planner. "He told me he wanted to do the same in Clarksdale, to help out with crime and unemployment."

McMillian's story demonstrates that things are not always what they appear. The successful and openly gay Black young man returned to his Mississippi Delta hometown to run for mayor. The city apparently welcomed him with open arms. Such a loss. Watch ABCNews.com's report on AFTER THE JUMP ...

Jarod Keith, McMillian’s campaign spokesman, confirmed the candidate was openly gay but said it never came up during the campaign. Keith said he was in shock over the incident. "We remember Marco as a bold and passionate public servant, whose faith informed every aspect of his life," Keith said. "Tragically, that life has been cut short."

Millian was discovered absent after an accident involving his SUV happened around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday near the Coahoma County-Tallahatchie County line. Reed, who was driving McMillian’s SUV, had collided head-on with another vehicle. McMillian wasn’t in his SUV at the time of the accident, thus prompting a search for his whereabouts.

Clarksdale is a town of 21,000 in the Mississippi Delta. The town is well known as a center for blues music. Academy Award-nominated actor and Mississippi native Morgan Freeman co-owns a music club there.
Singer Bessie Smith following an accident on Highway 61.

McMillian apparently had a distinguished career as a fundraising executive, according to the biography at Marco McMillian for Mayor. McMillan most recently served as International Executive Director of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Previously he was a development executive at Alabama A&M and Jacskon State, raising helping to raise "$38 million... and more than $16 million" respectively, reportedly. "McMillian was named in Mississippi Business Journal’s 'Top 40 Under 40' and was recognized by EBONY in 2004 as one of the nation’s leaders who are 30 and under."

Until last year, there were no openly LGBT politicians in Mississippi. If elected, McMillian would have been one of only several Black openly gay men to lead a town or city.

No charges have filed yet. There is also no indication that McMillian's sexuality was a factor in his death.

09 November 2011

Excellent news to report on a story that we've followed at Rod 2.0: LaWana Mayfield has won her race for Charlotte City Council. Mayfield becomes the first openly LGBT elected official in North Carolina's largest city.

Mayfield was one of the 9 Democrats swept to victory last night on the 11-member council, reports the Charlotte Observer. Mayfield had 78.1 percent to 21.6 percent for Republican Ed Toney. The 41-year-old lesbian community organizer won her primary in September, ousting four-term incumbent Warren Turner to represent District 3.

[Mayfield] later had to distance herself from attack ads mailed to District 3 voters by the Raleigh-based group Common Sense Matters. The group, headed by openly gay Raleigh businessman Alan King, paid $14,227 for the fliers. Despite the short-lived controversy over King’s attack ads, Mayfield led an otherwise strong campaign focused solely in issues she said her constituents cared about. Foremost on their minds, she said, was property values, economic growth and public safety.

Mayfield had won endorsements from the Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee, Mecklenburg County Black Political Caucus, this newspaper,The Charlotte Post and The Charlotte Observer. In July, she received a national endorsement from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

"This is a big step forward. We’re thrilled for LaWana and the Charlotte LGBT community, and really proud to have played a part in this history-making night," said Denis Dison, the Victory Fund’s vice president for communications. "Electing out local officials makes cities like Charlotte more welcoming to LGBT families, and it sends a message that voters are fair-minded."

Mayfield becomes North Carolina's second Black LGBT elected official. Greensboro's Marcus Brandon is one of three Black gay male legislators currently serving in the nation.

LaWana Mayfield's victory brings renewed focus on Charlotte's record on LGBT issues as the city prepares to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Charlotte has the distinction of being the state's only major city to lack protections for gay employees. There are also no statewide protections for LGBT citizens or employees in North Carolina. Tarheel voters will also consider a constitutional ban on any same-sex partner recognition in May 2012.

14 September 2011

Despite Tuesday's disappointing vote in the North Carolina Senate, there is one great story to report from the Tarheel State: Out lesbian LaWana Mayfield could become Charlotte's first openly LGBT council member after winning the all-important Democratic primary.

Mayfield ousted four-term incumbent Warren Turner with 51% of the votes in the 3-way race to represent District 3. "Mayfield faces a Republican opponent in the general election, but enters the fall contest a heavy favorite because the district traditionally backs Democrats," says the Victory Fund's Gay Politics blog.

Mayfield is the fourth openly gay or lesbian candidate to run for local office in Charlotte; she’s also the first ever to win any election — primary or general — in the Queen City. She now faces Republican Ed Toney in the general election on Nov. 8. If successful, Mayfield will become the first openly gay or lesbian person elected to local office in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

Despite the historic nature of her campaign, Mayfield and her campaign director, Billy Kluttz, said LGBT issues figured a relatively small concern in the minds of voters. Kluttz said Mayfield will prove victorious in November. He also doesn’t think Mayfield’s sexual orientation will have much effect on voters’ decision.

"Folks have been clear about what they care about is having someone who shows up and LaWana has done that over and over again and that’s how we’ve really differentiated her from the incumbent," Kluttz said.

"I had hoped the community wanted to see something different and that they would support me but, honestly, I was never arrogant enough to assume that I’d win," Mayfield told qnotes. "I’m confident our community is ready for a change and they are confident in the fact that I’ll get on council and fight for the community and that I mean what I say."

Warren Turner has a history of making homophobic and sexist comments, as well as several complaints of sexual harassment. Turner was accused last year of asking employees and a fellow council member if a council staffer was a lesbian. Turner was eventually fired from his position as a probation officer with the North Carolina Department of Corrections.

There has been a renewed focus on Charlotte's record on LGBT issues as the city prepares to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The city council has also refused to update local anti-discrimination policies to include LGBTs. There are also no statewide protections for LGBT citizens or employees in North Carolina. The state's voters will also consider a constitutional ban on any same-sex partner recognition in May 2012.

29 July 2011

Democrat LaWana Mayfield has announced her candidacy for the Charlotte City Council. The 41-year-old community organizer is an out lesbian and could become the city's first openly LGBT council member.

Mayfield is challenging four-term incumbent Warren Turner in the September 13 primary for District 3 in southwest Charlotte. The district leans heavily Democratic and Turner ran unopposed in his last two elections.

Turner has a history of making homophobic and sexist comments, as well as several complaints of sexual harassment. Turner was accused last year of asking employees and a fellow council member if a council staffer was a lesbian. Turner was eventually fired from his position as a probation officer with the North Carolina Department of Corrections.

"I’m not taking on the incumbent," Mayfield told QNotes, the local LGBT newspaper. "I’m running for this seat because I believe I am the best candidate to represent the diversity of District 3. My campaign is not a campaign against an individual but is a campaign for maintaining real estate values, injecting economic development and increasing community safety."

There has been a renewed focus on Charlotte's record on LGBT issues as the city prepares to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention There are no statewide protections for LGBT citizens or employees in North Carolina. The city council has also refused to update local anti-discrimination policies to include LGBT. North Carolina voters could also see a constitutional marriage ban on the 2012 ballot.

13 May 2011

Sources close to Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., have told the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund she is very likely to run for the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by Sen. Herb Kohl, who has decided not to run for reelection in 2012. If Baldwin runs and wins, she would become the nation’s first openly LGBT member of the U.S. senate.

“This would obviously be a top priority for us. Tammy Baldwin has been an outstanding congresswoman, and she’d be an outstanding senator,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which has endorsed Baldwin repeatedly. In 1998, when Baldwin became the first openly LGBT candidate to win election to the U.S. Congress as a freshman, the Victory Fund raised nearly a quarter million dollars for her campaign.

Baldwin made history in 1998 as the first openly LGBT candidate to win election to Congress as a freshman.

Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade notes that a statewide primary and Senate campaign "would be more challenging for Baldwin" than the electorate in her own Democratic-leaning district but ...

Despite the challenge that Baldwin could face, recent events in Wisconsin could tilt the odds of winning a Senate seat in her favor. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) agenda, which has included a restriction on collective bargaining rights of state workers, has energized Democrats in Wisconsin. Baldwin was vocal in her support for the union rights during the debate and could capitalize on her visibility during the often heated discussion in her pursuit of higher office.

06 April 2011

History is made in Chicago. James Cappleman won a runoff election last night to represent the 46th Ward on the Chicago City Council. The Victory Fund-endorsed Cappleman will become the city's second openly gay alderman on the city council of 50 members.

Cappleman won by a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent over [Molly] Phelan, a property tax attorney. Cappleman, a former teacher, licensed social worker and community activist, will now represent the Uptown district of Chicago replacing long time Alderman Helen Shiller who did not run for re-election after 24 years of service. Cappleman's long-time partner of 18 years, Richard Thale, is chair of the 23rd Police District's Court Advocacy Committee and a [Community police] facilitator.

Cappelman's opponent had been criticized in recent weeks for an increasingly negative and homophobic tone, adds Windy City Times. Community "members accus[ed] Phelan of employing flyers with anti-gay undertones. At least one of the flyers criticized Cappleman's plan to address crime in the ward as consisting of 'anger management classes and flowers.'"

Neighborhood residents also complained after being contacted by gay-baiting telephone push-polling, adds the Victory Fund's Gay Politics blog. One reported question: "Knowing that [ Cappleman's ] only crime agenda is to plant flowers and hang out on Halsted Street, would you vote for him or [ Phelan ]?”

Cappleman will join the neighboring 44th ward's Tom Tunney as the city"s only openly gay elected aldermen.

"Gay activists say the estimate of more than 150 appointments so far — from agency heads and commission members to policy officials and senior staffers — surpasses the previous high of about 140 reached during two full terms under President Bill Clinton. 'From everything we hear from inside the administration, they wanted this to be part of their efforts at diversity,' said Denis Dison, spokesman for the Presidential Appointments Project of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute.

"In a sign of how times have changed, few of the appointees—about two dozen required Senate confirmation—have stirred much controversy. It's a far cry from the 1993 furor surrounding Clinton's nomination of then-San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg as assistant secretary for Housing and Urban Development. Achtenberg was the first openly gay official to serve at such a senior level, and she won confirmation despite contentious hearings and Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., who denounced her as a 'militant extremist.'

"Gay activists, among Obama's strongest supporters, had hoped he would be the first to appoint an openly gay Cabinet secretary. While that hasn't happened—yet—Obama did appoint the highest-ranking gay official ever when he named John Berry as director of the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the nation's 1.9 million federal workers. Other prominent names include Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Fred Hochberg, chairman of the Export-Import Bank. Obama also named Amanda Simpson, the first openly transgender appointee, as a senior technical adviser in the Commerce Department. And David Huebner, ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, is the third openly gay ambassador in U.S. history."

White House spokesman Shin Inouye confirms the record number and adds that Obama has hired more gay officials than the Clinton and Bush Administrations combined. Inouye says Obama "is proud that his appointments reflect the diversity of the American public."

Definitely good news but it's also very relative. In 1993, much of the public and the political establishment was anti-gay and there had never been any openly gay presidential appoointments. In 2010, five states have marriage equality, gay couples can marry in Washington DC, there are openly gay congressmen and openly gay heads of state. The Administration deserves kudos for its appointment record but the focus should remain on impact legislation that will affect many thousands of people, such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act.